Open Spaces

More good work to report from Service Law Enforcement agents. Last week, an Alabama man was indicted for the illegal possession, transportation and sale of protected reptiles, activities in violation of the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act is a federal wildlife law which makes it unlawful to transport, sell, receive, acquire or purchase wildlife which was taken, transported, possessed or sold in violation of state, federal or Indian tribal laws or regulations.

For the past six years the man traveled back and forth to Arizona where he hunted and captured reptiles like the gila monster featured below:

According to the felony and misdemeanor charges filed in federal court the man transported some of the illegally captured reptiles back to Scottsboro for his own collection and some were distributed to others. In addition, he provided guiding services to others for the capture of Arizona protected reptiles

The investigation was conducted by our agents, Office of Law Enforcement and the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Special Operations Unit.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.